Ralph James McKenna, 83 of Belvidere, IL died peacefully Tuesday afternoon, October 25, 2011 in Amberwood Care Center, Rockford, IL after a lingering illness. Ralph was born December 6, 1926 in Juda, Wisconsin the son of John C. and Genevieve (Larkin) McKenna. Ralph grew up in Evansville, WI and graduated from Evansville High School. He joined the US Army in World War II and served from December 11, 1944 until December 11, 1946 in the Pacific Theater. Ralph attended and graduated from the U.W. LaCrosse earning his BA in 1941 and his MA in 1959. He taught high school P.E. and coached football, basketball and baseball in Algoma, WI until 1961 when he moved to Belvidere; where he taught in the high school science department and coached basketball, golf and football. During the summers he spent 20 years as a dispatcher for Green Giant and then worked for the Rockford Park District as a starter for Elliott Golf Course and then for Aldeen until his retirement. Ralph married Lois Hoffman on July 18, 1964 in Belvidere. Ralph is loved and will be missed by his wife Lois of Belvidere; daughters Susan (Todd) McKenna-Slapp and Ann McKenna both of Green Bay, WI; step-son Jeff (Mary) Mielke of California; step-daughter Lynn (Kerry) Nichols of Port Washington, WI; grandchildren Conner and Molly McKenna-Slapp and Luke Mielke; sister Marianne (Jerry) Beckwith of Evansville, WI; sister in-law Carolyn Angle of Dakota, IL; numerous nieces and nephews. Ralph is predeceased by his parents and brother, Jack.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given in care of the Ralph J. McKenna Scholarship Fund at Belvidere High School.